UPDATE 2-Deals of the day -- mergers and acquisitions

March 18 (Reuters) - The following bids, mergers, acquisitions and disposals involving European, U.S. and Asian companies were reported by 1330 GMT on Tuesday.

(For Reuters columns on deals, click on [DEALTALK/])

** Confidence Petroleum India Ltd (CONF.BO) said it would form an equal joint venture with Energtek Inc EGTK.OB in India to provide pipeless natural gas supply to automotive and industrial consumers.

In the first phase, Confidence Petroleum would invest 1 billion rupees in the venture. [nBOM103034]

** French retailer Casino Guichard (CASP.PA) said it had raised its stake in Dutch retailer Super de Boer SDB.AS to 57 percent. It said it had acquired a 6 percent holding from Amber Fund at a price of 4.3 euros a share. [nPAC009368]

** Sherritt International (S.TO) said it plans to buy all the outstanding units of Royal Utilities Income Fund RU_u.TO that it does not already own for C$12.25 per unit. [nWNA7844]

** Singapore Airlines (SIAL.SI) said it was still in talks with China Eastern over acquiring a stake, as it seeks to get a foot into the world’s fastest-growing aviation market and offset slower demand in the Americas. [nSP143422]

** Swedish lock maker Assa Abloy (ASSAb.ST) said it had signed a deal to buy Chinese Beijing Tianming’s (BJTM) high-security steel door business for an undisclosed amount. [nL18753890]

** British software company Misys Plc MSY.L said it would merge its healthcare arm with Nasdaq-listed Allscripts (MDRX.O), to boost its presence in the U.S. market. [nL18778304]

** Nippon Oil Corp 5001.T, Japan’s largest refiner, and rival Kyushu Oil Co said they may merge by October to stay competitive in Japan’s struggling petroleum industry. (Complied by Neetha Mahadevan in Bangalore)